Elyria, Lorain & North Ridgeville Bankruptcy Attorney 440-365-2000

How long does a Bankruptcy Case take?

How long does a bankruptcy discharge take? This is one of the first questions any client asks. To answer your question, from filing to finish a typical chapter 7 case takes just over 105 days in Cleveland. That is from date of filing to discharge, to closing the case.

The interesting thing is though, the length of time really doesn’t matter.

The automatic stay is granted the moment I file your bankruptcy petition. The rest of the case is a number of administrative steps leading to a discharge. The automatic stay remains with you throughout the bankruptcy unless one of your creditors asks the court to specifically remove it with respect to a debt or a secured asset.

Sounds fast….it is. Sounds easy. It can be….if you do all the work needed to prepare for your chapter 7 bankruptcy before your attorney files it.

The process moves along at a very nice clip if you provide your attorney everything he requests to prepare your case. Even if you gave everything he wanted at your consultation, it needs to be continually updated to the date your file the chapter 7 case, and beyond depending on the trustee assigned. The most important thing to keep up to date are:

your pay stubs,

changes is employment for your or a household member

tax returns,

any bills you get that were not provided already. You must identify each creditor (who you owe money to)

by name,

address,

account number,

collateral,

amount due.

Be very careful to leave nothing or no one out.

If you are resist document requests and drag your feet when asked for things, fasten you seat belt, you are in for a long, bumpy, and potentially expensive ride. This gets even worse if the case is filed and the additional document requests come from your trustee. The fact you have your discharge does not stop the trustee from administering your case. A hot tip: The Trustee never forgets. If he or she wants something, provide it.

Bill Balena is an attorney with offices in Elyria and Westlake, Ohio. He represents consumers in Chapter 7 and Chapter 13 cases. He is a former city prosecutor, and an accomplished OVI, DUI, DUS and criminal trial attorney.

I am not your lawyer, and nothing in this site creates that relationship. Bankruptcy law requires that for me to be your bankruptcy lawyer you and I must have a written contract. So, unless we both agree in writing, you are not my client.

I am a debt relief agency. I help people file for bankruptcy relief under the bankruptcy code.